At their council group AGM, Cllr Kirsten Bayes was unanimously re-elected unopposed as Group Leader, and Cllr Daisy Benson as Deputy Leader.
Cllr Gareth Epps was elected as Group Press Officer and Cllr Peter Beard Group Chair. Katesgrove’s new Liberal Democrat Councillor Rebecca Rye was elected Group Secretary.
The Liberal Democrats gained a seat on the Borough Council in May’s elections, and have now made gains in each of the last four local elections in Reading. The balance of Reading Borough Council is currently: Labour 19, Conservative 17, Liberal Democrats 9, Green 1.
On Tuesday 11th May the Liberal Democrat Federal Executive and Parliamentary Party approved the coalition agreement negotiated with the Conservative Party.
Both bodies endorsed it by more than a three-quarters majority. The provisions of the ‘triple lock’ procedure approved by conference in 1998 have therefore been satisfied.
Nevertheless, the Federal Executive believes it appropriate to consult the party’s membership on this important matter. The Federal Executive is therefore calling a special conference to enable the party to debate the coalition agreement reached between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party.
The motion endorsing the agreement – though not the agreement itself – is open to amendment. The amendments selected for debate by the Federal Conference Committee will be published late on Saturday 15th May.
The conference will be held in Birmingham on Sunday 16th May 2010.
Apart from welcoming and closing speeches, there is just one item: the debate on the motion submitted by the Federal Executive endorsing the coalition agreement.
In holding this special conference we are demonstrating again than we are a democratic party which listens to and trusts its members. However we vote, we will be making history; we hope you will be there to take part.
For more information on who can register and how please go to the Special Conference Registrations page. Please note this is an event for Party members-only and advance registration is currently only open to those who are voting members of conference.
Reading Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce the selection of Daisy Benson as our prospective candidate for the Reading West constituency. Daisy is a popular and hard working councillor for the Reading Borough Council ward of Redlands where she has built up a reputation as the people’s champion.
Within the Council group Daisy is Deputy Leader and Chair of the Housing and Health Scrutiny panel. She also chairs the Safer Communities (South) Forum.
Nationally Daisy is one of the Liberal Democrat representatives on the Local Government Association’s Safer Communities Board and she is also a board member of the Empty Homes Agency.
Daisy was nominated last year for the Lib Dem Voice “Best Use of Social Media” award in recognition of her innovative use of Facebook and has just been shortlisted for the Online Councillor of the Year award from the Local Government Information Unit.
Daisy Benson says: “I’m starting late in this race but I’ve got loads of energy and I’m confident I’ll be able to get my message out there. I want to build on what I have done in Reading over the past four years so I can help more people and change Reading West for the better.
“In particular I plan to campaign for better housing for all, better health services and real action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.”
If you would like to help Daisy win in Reading West, please email us or telephone 0118 967 0009. You can also visit her web site www.daisybenson.com
Bob Green, our long-serving Lib Dem Reading Borough Councillor is to be made a Freeman of the Borough at a special ceremony this week.
Bob Green served on the council for 13 years before standing down at this year’s local elections in May. He was leader of the Liberal Democrat group for seven years and Mayor in 2000-2001. He also served on Berkshire County Council for three years until it was abolished in 1998.
At a special council meeting on Thursday (13th) Council Leader Jo Lovelock will propose that Bob receives the Honour in recognition of his distinguished service for the Borough of Reading. The Leader of the Conservative group Andrew Cumpsty, will second the motion.
Reading Mayor Peter Beard will then present Bob with a scroll confirming his position as a Freeman. The honour entitles him to drive any sheep he owns through the streets of Reading!
Bob, a retired senior Civil Servant, will attend the ceremony with his wife Jill, daughter Laura and other family members.
Speaking at his home in Caversham Heights, he said: “I am flattered and delighted. I regard it as a great honour. I am particularly pleased because I regard Reading, as it is today, as a town worthy of pride and I am grateful to have been able to make some contribution to this.”
Bob was born in Kent and moved to Reading from London in 1971.
All members of the Greater Reading Liberal Democrats would like to thank Bob for all his hard work and dedication, not only to the party but to the people of Reading and to wish him a long and happy retirement.
If you are a member of the Liberal Democrats you are cordially invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Greater Reading Liberal Democrats, which will take place on Thursday 20th November 2008 at 8:00pm at the Church Hall, Downshire Square, Reading.
Amongst other things, the AGM will need to elect the Chair and officers who will form the Committee for 2009 as well as Federal & Regional conference representatives.
Agenda for the Annual General Meeting 2008 To be held on Thursday 20th November 2008 at 8:00pm, The Church Hall, Downshire Square.
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting held on 22nd November 2007
3. Reports from:-
3.1. Chair
3.2. Treasurer
3.3. Conference Representatives
3.4. Liberal Democrat Groups of
3.4.1. Reading Council
3.4.2. Wokingham Council
4. Motions to AGM
5. Election of Officers
5.1. Chair
5.2. Vice-Chair
5.3. Secretary
5.4. Treasurer
5.5. Membership Secretary
5.6. Youth & Student Representative
6. Election of Federal and Regional Conference Representatives
6.1. Federal Conference Representatives (maximum of 7 + 2 reserves)
6.2. Regional Conference Representatives (maximum of 7 + 2 reserves)
7. To note the Accounts for 2007 (see note 1)
8. Appointment of Auditor for the 2008 Local Party Accounts
Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat councillor for Katesgrove, was elected unopposed at a group meeting on Saturday afternoon as the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Reading Borough Council.
Gareth – with long experience in forming Liberal Democrat policy at national level – takes over from Bob Green, who stood down from the Council on 1 May after 7 years leading the Liberal Democrats in Reading. Under Bob the number of Liberal Democrat seats grew at each of the last three local elections.
Gareth says:-
‘I’m delighted to have such clear support to take up this challenge, at a time of such clear opportunity for Liberal Democrats in Reading.
‘Bob Green has done a tremendous job for the Liberal Democrats. His expertise and authority has won respect across party lines. We will miss his direct input – though I’m glad to be able to count on his advice. I’m glad to say he is in great spirits and feeling better every day.
‘The people of Reading voted for change on 1 May. My first task is to make sure that we deliver that change. Reading needs a Council that listens and responds to local people’s concerns. Liberal Democrats will work not to deliver the agendas of others – but the agenda of real change. We have asked the Labour and Conservative groups to respond to our manifesto – which is available publicly – for this exact reason.’
Just after 2.30pm yesterday Liberal Democrat acting leader Dr Vince Cable MP announced that Nick Clegg, MP for Sheffield Hallam has been elected the new leader of the Liberal Democrats with 50.6% of the vote. Clegg replaces Sir Menzies Campbell MP who served as party leader from March 2006 until stepping down in October.
Reading Liberal Democrats welcome Mr Clegg‘s election and look forward to working with him in forthcoming campaigns. Lib Dem deputy group leader Cllr. Gareth Epps sent warm congratulations saying, “Both Nick and Chris have run great campaigns over the past two months and I thank them both. Under Nick‘s leadership I am certain we’ll see a renewed energy in the party and we’re going to make full use of it here in Reading to really take the fight to Labour and the Tories. I echo his call to disillusioned voters who used to vote for us or the other parties to rediscover the Liberal Democrats”
Nick Clegg has been MP for Sheffield Hallam since entering parliament in 2005 before which he had been a member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands region since 1999. He has been Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Affairs spokesperson since 2006. He visited Reading in April this year as part of the local election campaign.
Cllr. Epps also paid tribute to Dr Vince Cable MP who, as acting party leader has overseen a rise in Lib Dem opinion poll ratings and delivered some first rate performances in the Commons, notably criticising the government’s handling of the Northern Rock affair and describing the Prime Minister’s “remarkable transformation in the last few weeks from Stalin to Mr Bean, creating chaos out of order rather than order out of chaos”. Cllr Epps described Dr Cable as “an incredibly able politician who has more than shown his worth. I’m sure he will continue to play a major role on Nick‘s front bench team.”
At a meeting last Friday Liberal Democrats in Reading West selected Patrick Murray as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate to take on both Labour and the Tories at the next general election, whenever it is called.
Patrick is a mature student from Oxford where he is the Executive Member for Housing on Oxford City Council. Patrick was elected to Oxford City Council in 2004 by capturing a safe Labour seat with a 23% swing. At the age of 27 he is already a seasoned campaigner who intends to bring his experience to bear in Reading West
Patrick will concentrate on three key themes :-
• Civil Liberties
Patrick will support bringing the troops home from Iraq. He will oppose ID cards, extending detention without charges and the other Labour attacks on civil liberties at home and abroad.
• Social Justice
Patrick will oppose tuition fees that deter potential students from fulfilling their potential at university. He will defend the NHS against creeping privatisation currently being engineered by both Labour and the Tories.
• The Environment
Patrick will lead the Lib Dems in Reading West in taking on the tokenism being pushed by Labour and the Tories. Lib Dems are committed to providing a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.
Coling Lawley, Chair of Reading Lib Dems said, “Patrick has set out his stall and we will campaign on these three key issues over the coming months. We look forward to working with Patrick and breaking the current Labour hold on Reading West.”
Editor’s Note: For more information call Patrick Murray on 07891 330778.
Reading East Liberal Democrats have selected Reading resident Gareth Epps as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
The result was announced after a one-member, one-vote selection at the hustings meeting held on Saturday (20 January) at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley.
Gareth takes over from John Howson who fought the seat at the last General Election. He stood in the 2001 General Election against David Cameron in Witney, increasing the Liberal Democrats’ share of the vote. He works in London on a major infrastructure project. Gareth has been vocal in the campaign against Labour’s plans for a one-way IDR.
Commenting on his selection, Gareth said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for the Liberal Democrats – we only need a 5.7% swing to win at the General Election. With Labour in freefall, the choice in Reading East will be clear – it will be us challenging the Tories. Our commitment to a clean and green environment, our clear stance on the one-way IDR and our commitment to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour has already found resonance on the doorstep. I will campaign on our strong track record locally and national policies domestically and abroad that brought us a swing at the last General Election.”
The Chair of Greater Reading Liberal Democrats, Coling Lawley said: “I’m delighted that with Gareth as our candidate, we have selected a good local campaigner who has already built a strong team around him. We are all looking forward to the challenges ahead and are confident that we can get a excellent result at the next General Election.”
Editor’s Note – The independent UK Polling Report website ukpollingreport.co.uk/ lists Reading East in the top 40 most winnable seats for the Liberal Democrats at the next election, with less than 5,000 votes between the Tories and Lib Dems. The last two local election results across the constituency have seen the Lib Dems in second place ahead of Labour.
Preserving Liberal Democracy, community cohesion and dealing with a suicide bombers’ cell in your constituency …..
How can we retain our freedoms and our security?
Speaker:
Greg Mulholland MP
(Lib Dem, Leeds North West)
Monday 20 November, 8pm onwards.
RISC Global Café, 35-39 London Street, Reading.
No charge for admission but donations welcome to cover costs.
Cash bar available.
